Seeing the hole picture

They were just simple basketball games played in the backyard at a house in Ohio, but to Jeff Purser they meant much more.

Just the fact that it was competition meant that it was important for Purser, now the Toshiba Classic tournament director. The way Purser’s friend, Jerry Velasquez, describes the 43-year-old as a teen could be the same picture painted for his role now, especially this week at Newport Beach Country Club.

“He played hard,” Velasquez said. “He wasn’t going to lose. He was aggressive.”

It’s a different situation this week, but Purser still has his game face on.

When a crisis comes, or even for a minute detail dealing with the tournament, Purser is the go-to guy. He’s ready. He doesn’t turn anything down, because he doesn’t want to lose.

“I’m a very competitive person and that comes out in my personality,” he said. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I’m involved and I’m always trying to get the best out of everyone.”

In the weeks leading up to the tournament, e-mails flood his inbox. He takes and makes hundreds of calls. Purser wants to make sure everything is done right.

Throughout the past 13 years, Purser has been a big reason the Toshiba Classic has been one of the most successful events on the Champions Tour (for players 50 and over). The Toshiba Classic is tops on the tour when it comes to money raised for charity. Purser is proud of that for sure.

And he wants to keep it that way.

He has his close friend to help out, behind the scenes. Velasquez, a police officer in Ohio, is in charge of security at the Toshiba Classic. Purser trusts him like a brother, so it’s natural he would assign a great deal of responsibility to Velasquez.

They used to battle each other when they played hoops in that backyard, but now they’ll work together. Yet, Velasquez knows it’s Purser’s show.

“He does come off as aggressive and for people who don’t know him, they might take offense to that,” Velasquez said. “I’ve seen him like that and I expect that out of him. He might get that way with me. But that’s OK, because it will be forgotten about. He’s a strong person and wants things done his way.”